Sometimes Things Just Don't Go Your Way

Everything looked like it was going to be a good day when I awoke at 5:15 AM. I actually woke up without the alarm so you knew it was a good sign. The cat even slept with me for part of the night and I didn't hear him come into the room. The only way, I knew he was there was when I went to turn and the covers didn't move. It was good to wake up to a restful sleep.

I did my usual prerace drinks and waited till I used the bathroom before I headed out. I saw that I needed gas so I stopped for that. I was making great time and arrived at the site 1 hour before the start. It sure looked like it was going to be a good day.

The bathrooms were closed so I had to wait for them to be opened. Checking in was easy and I got my XL shirt. While waiting for the start of the race, I talked with this guy Tim who just moved here from Nevada. He had recently gotten a divorce and moved home to his parents house in NY. It was going to be his first NY race.

Prerace instructions were clear. Follow the arrows. Broadway ultra society is usually good at not getting you lost so I knew that it wasn't going to be a problem. Seeing that everyone was hydrating I went for a cliff shot block, blackberry with caffeine. That didn't settle well in my stomach, but I didn't know that at the time.

I went out hard and fast and soon I was 3rd. Not wanting to loose time or my place, I picked up the pace and wasn't getting water. This was a bad thing as it was in the 80'ies but I didn't know it. The course wasn't shaded so I was doomed from the start.

Before you knew it, I had started to slow up and felt nauseous. Thought of quitting entered my head and I just couldn't shake it. I dropped out. My face was white and I was exhausted. This just wasn't going to be my day.

Soon after the race, I arrived at Lee's in NYC and drank 2 1/2 liters of seltzer in under 2 hours. I was severely dehydrated. By the time I finished all the water, my nausea went away.

It's sad. So days you have it and some days you don't. I need to prepare myself for the heat and this just hasn't been happening. Only Monday it was 36 in the morning. Hopefully next race will be better.

Happy trails.